Historical debate about World War I now boils down to views: the “Blackadder”, Lions-led-by-Donkeys view of senseless carnage orchestrated by blimpish generals; or the view that the generals have been much maligned and actually achieved a stunning victory despite the enormous human cost. Here, in the Centenary year of The Somme, two eminent military historians offer their interpretations of the “war to end all wars”

Hugh Sebag-Montefiore is a journalist and historian. His best-selling books include Enigma: The Battle for the Code and Dunkirk: Fight to the Last Man. Published on the centenary of the battle, his new book, Somme: Into the Breach, has received unanimously laudatory reviews.

Allan Mallinson is a former infantry and cavalry officer. He is the author of the Matthew Hervey series of novels and writes on defence matters for The Times and the Daily Telegraph. His latest offering, Too Important for the Generals, has been praised as powerfully-argued and polemical in its analysis of WW1.

Dr Jennifer Wellington is a lecturer in modern global history at UCD

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